De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
| De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Touring plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
May 27, 1933 |
| Commissioning: |
July 8, 1933 |
| Production time: |
1933 to 1936 |
| Number of pieces: |
133 |
The de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth was a high - wing , three-seater touring aircraft produced by the British manufacturer de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1933. It was the successor to the DH.80 Puss Moth .
history
When designing the DH.85, de Havilland used many components of the Puss Moth. What was new was the frame made entirely of wood, which was significantly lighter than the tubular steel construction of the predecessor. Despite the identical motorization, the range, speed and payload could be increased. The outer skin was made of fabric-covered plywood. A Gipsy Major in - line engine served as the drive .
The prototype completed its maiden flight on May 27, 1933. In the following July it won the King's Cup Race with the designer Geoffrey de Havilland as pilot. Of the 133 copies built, 62 were made abroad. Production ended in 1936.
When the Second World War broke out , 44 aircraft were confiscated by the military and used primarily as liaison aircraft in Great Britain and Australia. Only a few machines survived the war, but some of them have been preserved in a flyable condition to this day.
Military users
-
Belgian Congo : 1 from October 9, 1940, Aviation Militaire de la Force Publique . -
British India
-
German Empire
-
Yugoslavia : Royal Yugoslav Air Force -
Netherlands
-
Portugal
-
Spain
-
Straits Settlements : Malayan Volunteer Air Force -
South Africa
-
Southern Rhodesia : 1 -
United Kingdom
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- Royal Air Force : some previously civilian aircraft used as liaison aircraft during World War II.
- Royal Navy : 1
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 2 |
| length | 7.50 m |
| span | 11.40 m |
| height | 2.70 m |
| Wing area | 19.1 m² |
| Empty weight | 640 kg |
| Takeoff weight | 1,010 kg |
| Top speed | 209 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 6,550 m |
| Range | 1,090 km |
| Engines | a 4-cylinder in-line de Havilland Gipsy Major engine with 95 kW |
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Luc Baudoux, Les Avions de la Force Publique du Congo ( Memento of the original of March 13, 2013 on WebCite ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed October 2011
- ↑ Ketley, Barry, and Rolfe, Mark. Luftwaffe Fledglings 1935–1945: Luftwaffe Training Units and their Aircraft (Aldershot, GB: Hikoki Publications, 1996), p.11.
